Many people misunderstand exactly what heart failure is. The term failure is misleading because when one suffers from these problems, the heart doesn’t ‘stop,’ but it does cease to function properly.

Heart exhaustion is a better term for what one might be experiencing. Heart problems are very serious and can even be fatal if they are not taken care of with the proper care. That’s why it’s all-important that you know what symptoms to look out for.

What are some of the symptoms of heart blockage that you need to be aware of? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.

Shortness of Breath

What is the one main symptom you need to look out for if you’re concerned about the health of your heart? Shortness of breath would be the main one to look out for.

It’s more common that you would experience this shortness of breath during an activity such as walking up the stairs, but it’s even possible to experience this while resting or sleeping. Breathlessness might overtake you without warning and it can be difficult to breathe right while laying flat.

Why does this shortness of breath occur? In most situations, it is the result of blood getting backed up, so to speak, in the pulmonary veins of the heart. These veins are the vessels that bring blood back into the heart from the lungs.

When the heart can’t keep up with the supply of blood flowing in, leakage can occur. This can create the shortness of breath that one might be experiencing.

Coughing or Wheezing That Won’t Stop

A few coughs here and there are normal and are not indicative of any real problem with the body. However, if you cough and wheeze over an extended period of time, it could be a sign that you have some serious heart problems that need dealing with.

How can you tell if this coughing or wheezing is linked to heart exhaustion? If when you cough white or pink-tinged mucus is produced, that’s not a good sign. Often, this colored mucus is a result of the leakage we previously mentioned.

It’s just another sign that the heart is failing to keep up with blood coming in from the lungs, and an excess of fluid is building up. You should see a doctor right away.

Increased Heart Rate

An increased heart rate isn’t always a bad thing. Often, we intentionally increase our heart rates, for example, when we exercise. It’s important that you know one thing, however: When to worry about heart palpitations and when not to.

If you’re experiencing the racing of your heart when you aren’t engaged in any physical activity at all, it might be a reason for concern. If your body isn’t doing anything to justify an increase in heart rate, these palpitations might be the result of your heart struggling to keep up with your normal rate of blood flow.

Do your palpitations quickly subside, or do they stick around? Is this a one-time occurrence, or does your heart seem to be racing all the time? The more common the feeling you’re experiencing is, the more it might be a true cause for concern.

Swelling in the Body

A symptom many people don’t know about when it comes to heart fatigue? The swelling of your limbs and various body parts. If you feel as if your feet or ankles have swollen up or gained weight, it may be a very serious symptom of heart problems.

Do you put your shoes on and feel as if they are tighter than they have been in the past? Your heart may be the culprit, not your feet themselves. It may be weird to think about how your heart could impact the size of your feet, but it actually makes perfect sense.

As the blood flowing out of your heart slows down, the blood that returns gets backed up. The excess blood overflow is then reverted and ends up building up in the tissues of your body. Fluid retention becomes more common as the kidneys struggle to dispose of sodium and water.

All of this fluid causes your body to swell. Your feet are impacted the most simply because of gravity: excess blood and fluid are pushed down to the lowest point of your body.

Feelings of Tiredness and Fatigue

If your heart is feeling exhausted, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be feeling quite tired as well. If you’ve started feeling zapped of energy on an everyday basis, or find it hard to complete basic tasks? It might not just be that you’re having a bad day. It might be your heart.

When your heart isn’t able to pump enough blood around your body, it instinctually diverts blood from less vital organs. This often means the muscles in your limbs. That means doing physical tasks like lifting, climbing, or even standing can all of a sudden feel quite wearisome.

Every time you feel tired won’t be an indication of heart exhaustion. However, if you’re experiencing tiredness on top of these other symptoms, it’s a good indication that something is wrong.

Understanding the Signs of Heart Exhaustion

Are you wondering if you’re suffering from heart exhaustion? There’s nothing more worrying than the feeling of your body not processing things in the proper manner. Looking out for the above symptoms can help you to determine if what you’re experiencing might be an issue of the heart or something else.

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